“It is vital that we keep music in our schools. It is absolutely ludicrous that the government does not understand. Because it’s not about turning children necessarily into musicians. It’s about empowering them in all sorts of different ways,” he said.

The composer went not on to claim that music teaches children to “be all-round human beings” and added: “Everything we can do to put music in our schools, we must.”

Lloyd Webber has previously said the arts “have too often borne the brunt of short-sighted cuts to educational budgets”.

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Matt is news editor for The Stage, having started as the newspaper’s broadcast reporter. He covers all areas of the industry in his role, but has a particular interest in musical theatre. Matt studied acting at Bretton Hall and presents a monthly theatre news round up on BBC London Radio.